President Joe Biden paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon, saluting the steadiness and fidelity she delivered to Britain and to an unsure world.
And he mentioned was able to construct on his relationship with King Charles, who will now take up the British throne.
‘In a world of fixed change, she was a steadying presence and a supply of consolation and delight for generations of Britons, together with many who’ve by no means recognized their nation with out her,’ mentioned Biden.
‘An everlasting admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united individuals throughout the Commonwealth.’
Biden, who met the Queen for the primary time as a senator in 1982, was reportedly advised of her dying throughout a gathering within the Oval Workplace.
‘Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and fidelity who deepened the bedrock alliance between the UK and america.
‘She helped make our relationship particular,’ he mentioned.
The White Home mentioned President Joe Biden had met the Queen 3 times, most not too long ago for tea with first woman Jilly Biden at Windsor Fortress in 2021
Throughout that journey the UK, the Bidens additionally met the Queen in Cornwall throughout a reception for the G7 world leaders. The president mentioned he first met the Queen in 1982 as a senator
The president ordered the US flag to be flown at half employees on the White Home and different public buildings, together with the U.S. Capitol seen right here
Biden had been scheduled to ship remarks on COVID-19 vaccines on the White Home.
However the occasion was canceled minutes after Buckingham Palace introduced the Queen’s dying.
It means Biden will renew his relationship with Charles.
They met final yr in Glasgow, on the sidelines of a serious United Nations local weather convention, the place they bonded on their shared concern for the setting.
‘Within the years forward, we look ahead to persevering with a detailed friendship with The King and The Queen Consort,’ mentioned Biden.
‘At present, the ideas and prayers of individuals all throughout america are with the individuals of the UK and the Commonwealth of their grief.
‘We ship our deepest condolences to the Royal Household, who will not be solely mourning their Queen, however their pricey mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
‘Her legacy will loom giant within the pages of British historical past, and within the story of our world.’
Biden’s most up-to-date assembly with the Queen was final yr, throughout a go to to the UK for a G7 summit of world leaders.
When the summit ended the Bidens flew to Windsor Fortress for a one-on-one assembly with the Queen, full with inspecting a guard of honor and afternoon tea.
The president simply managed to keep away from breaking royal protocol. At one level, as he joined the Queen on a dias to look at the Royal salute he appeared to achieve out his hand to take her arm – earlier than reining himself in on the final second.
On Thursday, White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was on the rostrum as information broke.
‘Is that confirmed,’ she requested as journalists shouted particulars.
When she was advised the information got here from official sources she paid tribute to the sturdy relationship between the UK and america.
‘Our hearts go to the individuals of the UK to the Queen and to to her household,’ she mentioned.
Her briefing had been dominated by questions in regards to the monarch, her well being and Biden’s response.
She mentioned the president was being stored up to date all through the day, and had provided heat phrases to Prime Minister Liz Truss on a video name with different world leaders.
‘His and the primary woman’s ideas are with the Queen and her household right this moment,’ she mentioned firstly of the briefing.
‘The president additionally conveyed to Prime Minister Truss throughout a beforehand scheduled video convention this morning that he and Dr. Biden are considering of the Queen, her household and the individuals of the UK.’
She added that the president had final spoken to the Queen in June of final yr, when the Bidens travelled to Britain for a G7 summit.
Biden’s tribute was one in all dozens from world leaders as information unfold all over the world.
Former President Donald Trump, who met her twice throughout his time in workplace, mentioned:
‘Our ideas and prayers will stay with the good individuals of the UK as you honor her most significant life and distinctive service to the individuals.
‘Might God bless the Queen, could she reign perpetually in our hearts.’
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Thursday that the Queen ’embodied continuity and the unity of the British nation over 70 years. I retain the reminiscence of a pal of France, a queen of hearts who marked as by no means earlier than her nation and her century.’
Germany’s overseas minister, Annalena Baerbock, expressed unhappiness on the information, tweeting: ‘Germany stays perpetually grateful that she stretched out her hand to us in reconciliation after the phobia of World Conflict II.’
